Caring touch plays a vital role in the health and development of our children. Unfortunately, many babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) begin to associate touch with pain or discomfort. Our Compassionate Beginnings program helps parents and medically fragile infants form loving, bonded relationships within a high-tech medical environment.

Our NICU staff use the Compassionate Beginnings program to teach parents how to communicate in their baby’s first developed language — the language of touch. Touch is the first sense developed by babies, starting in the womb at around four to six weeks. As the baby experiences various types of touch, pathways are created in the baby’s brain from these experiences.

The techniques taught in our Compassionate Beginnings program are carefully designed to let babies learn about their parents and the environment outside of the womb. It empowers parents to confidently provide direct comfort to their fragile infant, counteracting the experiences of invasive or painful procedures that babies often experience in the NICU.

How It Works

With the help of a trained healthcare professional, such as a registered nurse, respiratory therapist or physical therapist, NICU parents learn how to read their baby’s cues and behavior to identify when their little one is ready to be touched.

When ready, a parent begins by taking some deep breaths and doing a few shoulder stretches at the side of the crib to relax. Once focused, the parent may be guided to slowly place their relaxed, warm hands on the baby's bottom and head. This tells the infant that their parent is close by, and that there is security and comfort in this new world outside of the womb.

Contact may continue for up to 30 minutes, or at times only a few minutes, as tolerated by the infant. The parent communicates their love and caring through their touch and their voice. The baby’s cues and the medical monitors let the parent and healthcare professional know how well their touch is being tolerated and when to stop. 

What NICU Parents Say

Our Compassionate Beginnings program provides parents an opportunity to form a secure relationship with their newborn – a simple gift with benefits that last a lifetime.

Here’s what some of the parent’s we’ve helped say about the program:

• “Thank you for taking the time to teach me about Compassionate Beginnings. I learned a lot about being present with my baby and especially how to comfort her. It gave me confidence, which I needed!" — Father
• "I felt more capable of comforting my baby and bonding with her. We thank you and wish you and your Compassionate Beginnings program continued success." — Mother and Father of twins
• "Everyone should participate in the Compassionate Beginnings program. I wish I had this information when my other son was born premature. It would have helped me a lot." — Mother